Pictures of bent fork, is this fixable?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Central Pennsylvsnia
Posts: 25
Bikes: 1) Cannondale Road Tandem 2 2) Wilier Izoard xp 3) Motobecane Le Champion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Pictures of bent fork, is this fixable?
Got home from our ride tonight with the tandem on the roof and attempted to back into my car port. Totally forgetting about the bike on the roof. Stupid, Stupid!
Can this be fixed? Not the way I wanted to celebrate my birthday
#2
Hopelessly addicted...
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Central Maryland
Posts: 4,955
Bikes: 1949 Hercules Kestrel, 1950 Norman Rapide, 1970 Schwinn Collegiate, 1972 Peugeot UE-8, 1976 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Jack Taylor Tandem, 1984 Davidson Tandem, 2010 Bilenky "BQ" 650B Constructeur Tandem, 2011 Linus Mixte
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
I could be wrong, but it looks to me like the steerer got bent. I'd say you will need a new fork, though there may be the possibility of replacing the steerer.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Royal Palm Beach, Florida
Posts: 1,236
Bikes: 2006 Co-Motion Roadster (Flat Bars, Discs, Carbon Fork), Some 1/2 bikes and a couple of KTM's
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
As mentioned, looks like the steerer tube got bent. I doubt anyone would even try to fix it. Might be a time to coincide getting a carbon fork, if that is something you were considering.
PK
PK
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Central Pennsylvsnia
Posts: 25
Bikes: 1) Cannondale Road Tandem 2 2) Wilier Izoard xp 3) Motobecane Le Champion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Well I took off the fork and I don't know if you can see from the new photos it looks like the tube has been yacked back for lack of a better description. Could the tube be pushed back down flush with the fork?
If it's a no fix what carbon fork would you recommend?
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Central Coast, California
Posts: 3,370
Bikes: Colnago C-50, Calfee Dragonfly Tandem, Specialized Allez Pro, Peugeot Competition Light
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I wouldn't mess with fixing a fork on any bike, let alone a tandem. It's just not worth it. The carbon fork market has been pretty fluid so I'll let others who are more up on it to comment on new carbon forks.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Buffalo New York
Posts: 2,470
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
trash it.
__________________
2010 Kestrel RT900SL, 800k carbon, chorus/record, speedplay, zonda
2000 litespeed Unicoi Ti, XTR,XT, Campy crank, time atac, carbon forks
2010 Kestrel RT900SL, 800k carbon, chorus/record, speedplay, zonda
2000 litespeed Unicoi Ti, XTR,XT, Campy crank, time atac, carbon forks
#8
hors category
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,231
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
You need a new fork...
Going to a composite fork... just a few options and, even if you want to keep your front disc, they're not direct replacements.
All of them use shorter fork legs with less rake so there would be a trade-off / change in how your tandem handles as well as a drop in the front bottom bracket / cornering clearance.
As to whether or not that change would be for the better or worse, that would depend on your post-change impressions / preferences.
Going to a composite fork... just a few options and, even if you want to keep your front disc, they're not direct replacements.
All of them use shorter fork legs with less rake so there would be a trade-off / change in how your tandem handles as well as a drop in the front bottom bracket / cornering clearance.
As to whether or not that change would be for the better or worse, that would depend on your post-change impressions / preferences.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 1,971
Bikes: Custom 650B tandem by Bob Brown, 650B tandem converted from Santana Arriva, Santana Noventa, Boulder Bicycle 700C, Gunnar Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Sorry to hear about your fork. I have avoided a roof rack because I know that I would make the same mistake the OP did. Luckily forks are fairly easy to replace. I have heard of ruined frames and car racks ripped off.
See thread on Enve carbon fork for more info. Scroll down to read TandemGeek's post.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...r-an-ENVE-fork
As for a carbon fork I would check on the availability of a old style Wound Up brand fork. Race height 387 is about as high as any carbon fork. Some tandem specialty dealers may have on in stock.
https://www.woundupcomposites.com/specs.html
See thread on Enve carbon fork for more info. Scroll down to read TandemGeek's post.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...r-an-ENVE-fork
As for a carbon fork I would check on the availability of a old style Wound Up brand fork. Race height 387 is about as high as any carbon fork. Some tandem specialty dealers may have on in stock.
https://www.woundupcomposites.com/specs.html
Last edited by waynesulak; 08-31-12 at 06:32 AM.
#10
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Central Pennsylvsnia
Posts: 25
Bikes: 1) Cannondale Road Tandem 2 2) Wilier Izoard xp 3) Motobecane Le Champion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thank you guys for your opinions and information. This is our first tandem purchased in April of this year. This is the only "handling" I know. We have just shy of 1000 miles on it and we both feel quite comfortable on it. Don't know if I would like twitchier handling. So assuming there is not a direct carbon replacement for a Cannondale I would still like to keep the front disc brake. Would there need to be much modification to keep the Avid brakes? Also what would be my chances of getting an exact replacement, original fatty?
We have a three day ride coming up at the end of September and really don't want to miss it. We had an over night ride scheduled for tomorrow but that won't happen.
We have a three day ride coming up at the end of September and really don't want to miss it. We had an over night ride scheduled for tomorrow but that won't happen.
#11
hors category
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,231
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
Contact Cannondale or Mel at Tandems East re: Direct Replacement. Note that Mel is at the Midwest Tandem Rally this weekend thru Tues and may not be immediate in reply.
#12
Trail Blazing
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Posts: 249
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Specialized Epic, Niner RLT 9 Steel, Cannondale RT2 Tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Ouch, that hurts to see. But it sounds like you have a bunch of good avice in the above posts. Good luck.
If the future, you might want to try what I do. As I back the car out of the garage to put the bikes up top, I place two bright orange cones in the garage just inside the door. When I come home, I'd have to run them over to get in and it's an instant reminder. Just don't ask me why I started doing this. It's a sad story.
If the future, you might want to try what I do. As I back the car out of the garage to put the bikes up top, I place two bright orange cones in the garage just inside the door. When I come home, I'd have to run them over to get in and it's an instant reminder. Just don't ask me why I started doing this. It's a sad story.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Point Reyes Station, California
Posts: 4,528
Bikes: Indeed!
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1507 Post(s)
Liked 3,478 Times
in
1,132 Posts
If you have no luck locating a replacement, any experienced custom frame builder can make a fork for you with the same rake and length as your current fork, though probably not the proprietary Cannondale materials.
Brent
Brent
#14
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Central Pennsylvsnia
Posts: 25
Bikes: 1) Cannondale Road Tandem 2 2) Wilier Izoard xp 3) Motobecane Le Champion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I figured I would wait for Mel From Tandems East to get back from the tandem rally to get his advice. In the mean time I called a local Cannondale dealer to inquire about a replacement fork. I was told that if my steerer tube was bent then my frame was also bent. I have looked it over and seen no other signs of damage but admittedly I'm no expert.
As I was backing into the carport I first hit the rear trunk rack and also my Thule rack was moved forward about 8 inches so there was some give.
Would I be out of line to throw on a fork from one of my single bikes and just ride it down the street to see if I feel anything funky?
As I was backing into the carport I first hit the rear trunk rack and also my Thule rack was moved forward about 8 inches so there was some give.
Would I be out of line to throw on a fork from one of my single bikes and just ride it down the street to see if I feel anything funky?
#15
hors category
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,231
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
I'm not an expert either, but from what I'm seeing the damage looks to be confined to the fork; specifically, at the bond joint between the steerer and the fork crown. If there was any damage to the frame it would likely be at the welds that join the frame tubes to the head tube. Look for any cracks in the paint; I'm guessing you won't find any. Again, it appears that the energy from the collision with the garage was consumed by the steerer being pulled out of the crown. It doesn't appear as though the steerer is actually "bent".
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 1,971
Bikes: Custom 650B tandem by Bob Brown, 650B tandem converted from Santana Arriva, Santana Noventa, Boulder Bicycle 700C, Gunnar Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
I figured I would wait for Mel From Tandems East to get back from the tandem rally to get his advice. In the mean time I called a local Cannondale dealer to inquire about a replacement fork. I was told that if my steerer tube was bent then my frame was also bent. I have looked it over and seen no other signs of damage but admittedly I'm no expert.
As I was backing into the carport I first hit the rear trunk rack and also my Thule rack was moved forward about 8 inches so there was some give.
Would I be out of line to throw on a fork from one of my single bikes and just ride it down the street to see if I feel anything funky?
As I was backing into the carport I first hit the rear trunk rack and also my Thule rack was moved forward about 8 inches so there was some give.
Would I be out of line to throw on a fork from one of my single bikes and just ride it down the street to see if I feel anything funky?
Here we meet the problem with often heard and read advice to check with your local dealer for advice about damage to a frame/fork after a crash. As someone in a profession that gives advice at the risk of being sued I can hardly blame any dealer for concluding that that frame/fork needs replacing. The dealer in this case is playing it safe and has evaluated the problem without needing to see the frame or the fork.
Even if the dealer gives an honest opinion, the risk is really the owner's and he must decide if he is comfortable riding the bike.
#17
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Central Pennsylvsnia
Posts: 25
Bikes: 1) Cannondale Road Tandem 2 2) Wilier Izoard xp 3) Motobecane Le Champion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You are correct. I was looking for cracked paint over the entire frame and found none. And yes, the tube appears to be yanked out as is evident by gap at the crown. I wonder how the tube is installed, is it pressed in?
Would you not recommend putting another single bike fork on and test riding?
Would you not recommend putting another single bike fork on and test riding?
#18
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Central Pennsylvsnia
Posts: 25
Bikes: 1) Cannondale Road Tandem 2 2) Wilier Izoard xp 3) Motobecane Le Champion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Here we meet the problem with often heard and read advice to check with your local dealer for advice about damage to a frame/fork after a crash. As someone in a profession that gives advice at the risk of being sued I can hardly blame any dealer for concluding that that frame/fork needs replacing. The dealer in this case is playing it safe and has evaluated the problem without needing to see the frame or the fork.
Even if the dealer gives an honest opinion, the risk is really the owner's and he must decide if he is comfortable riding the bike.
Even if the dealer gives an honest opinion, the risk is really the owner's and he must decide if he is comfortable riding the bike.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 857
Bikes: Cannondale '92 T600 '95 H600 '01 RT1000
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 109 Times
in
82 Posts
I'd think it'd be visually apparent if the frame were damaged, but I agree, the advice of the LBS is the standard CYA answer.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 270
Bikes: '06 Titus mtb, 2004 Trek T2000 tandem, '88 Merckx 753, '18 Emonda, '91 Cannondale mtb, '19 Trance 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I bent a fork on my single mountain bike years back. I replaced it with another aluminum non-suspension fork. Eventually I realized I couldn't adjust the headset correctly. Turned out that the lower race didn't sit properly in the lower part of the head tub any more because it had ovalized from the time I bent the fork. I mean, the bore of the head tube ovalized, not the lower bearing race. I had to get a new frame.
But nothing scary ever happened... it was just an annoyance. I'd try getting any old $25 steel fork that fits and carefully try it out around the neighborhood before you spend a lot on a nice fork. Or borrow a buddy's fork just long enough to see if the lower bearing race can shift under weight. I'm just passing on my (bad) experience from what I thought was a simple bent fork, but hopefully tandem frames have beefier head tubes than a single mtb. That mtb frame happened to be a Cannondale, but it was from about 1993. Maybe head tubes were thinner back then. (It was 1-1/4" I believe.) Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
But nothing scary ever happened... it was just an annoyance. I'd try getting any old $25 steel fork that fits and carefully try it out around the neighborhood before you spend a lot on a nice fork. Or borrow a buddy's fork just long enough to see if the lower bearing race can shift under weight. I'm just passing on my (bad) experience from what I thought was a simple bent fork, but hopefully tandem frames have beefier head tubes than a single mtb. That mtb frame happened to be a Cannondale, but it was from about 1993. Maybe head tubes were thinner back then. (It was 1-1/4" I believe.) Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Last edited by wheelspeed; 09-01-12 at 06:44 PM.
#21
Riding Heaven's Highwayson the grand tour
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Tehachapi Mtns, Calif.
Posts: 737
Bikes: '10 C'Dale Tandem RT2. '07 Trek Tandem T2000, '10 Epic Marathon MTB, '12 Rocky Mountain Element 950 MTB, '95 C'dale R900, "04 Giant DS 2 '07 Kona Jake the Snake, '95 Nishiki Backroads
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sorry for your bad luck , we've all done that or something just as silly. Regarding damage to the frame, I don't want to bring you down here, but I would also be very concerned about the the shape of the lower portion of the head tube ....specifically the area where the lower bearing race is seated in the HT. I can't imagine how the amount of force required to bend that heavy duty fork would not transfer some of that force to the relatively thin walled head tube without tweaking it. Hopefully I'm wrong... Your idea of installing another fork of any kind should quickly show if that lower race was seriously bent out of alignment Good luck.
Bill J.
Bill J.
#22
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Central Pennsylvsnia
Posts: 25
Bikes: 1) Cannondale Road Tandem 2 2) Wilier Izoard xp 3) Motobecane Le Champion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
well I took a carbon fork and lower race from a single bike and installed it on the tandem. Took it outside and put the front tire against a brick wall and with the rear disk brake engaged tried pushing forward. There was no movement at all at the fork and head tube. I only noticed the tire giving somewhat.
I then took it for a ride solo and ran through the gears. Everything felt fine sans the obvious difference in rake.
What is the general opinion of caliper brakes on a Tandem, not that I will use my single bike forks as a permanent solution? Just want to weigh all of my options.
I then took it for a ride solo and ran through the gears. Everything felt fine sans the obvious difference in rake.
What is the general opinion of caliper brakes on a Tandem, not that I will use my single bike forks as a permanent solution? Just want to weigh all of my options.
#23
certified vegetarian
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 364
Bikes: 1973 Schwinn Paramount P10-9, 1988 Cannondale SR2000, 1994 Bridgestone XO-4, 1998 Bianchi Sam Remo, 1998 Ibis Spanky, 2009 Soma Rush, 2012 Surly Crosscheck
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I think it was Zonatandem who said they use a caliper on the front of theirs with no problem.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Phil_gretz
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
4
05-16-15 09:50 AM